Long Cecil, Artillery piece at Honoured Dead Memorial, Kimberley, South Africa.
Long Cecil is an artillery piece displayed at the Honoured Dead Memorial in Kimberley, manufactured in De Beers mining workshops. The gun was roughly 10 feet long and made from a single billet of mild steel, shaped entirely on site.
The gun was deployed during the Siege of Kimberley in 1900, firing more than 250 shells at Boer positions near Kamfers Dam. It played a key role in the defense operations throughout the conflict.
The gun appeared at Cecil Rhodes' funeral procession in Cape Town as a symbol of British military authority in the region. This connection to a major historical figure made the piece represent something beyond warfare, embodying the colonial presence at that time.
The gun is permanently installed at the memorial and can be viewed from accessible outdoor areas. Wear comfortable shoes as the grounds have some uneven terrain and viewing points may require a bit of walking.
The gun was designed and built in just 24 days by George Labram using minimal technical documentation and whatever materials were available locally. This achievement shows the ingenuity and craftsmanship that war sometimes demands.
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